Not right in the head
Rugby players prepare to take legal case to game’s governors over brain injuries suffered on the field
Everybody got a bit of water and carried on. Therewas no such thing as replacements like there is now. That was just life. John (JJ) Williams
John“jj” Williams can’t remember the day he got married. The 63-year-old former Waikato representative and Junior All Black can’t evenremember anything from his playing days in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Hesufferedmanyconcussions during his short career and has been told he is likely living with the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
“All those years, Idon’t even remember the day I got married ormycareer. It’s like another life that existed that Ididn’tknowabout,” Williams said.
Williams is speaking out after the Herald revealed a lawsuit is being prepared overseas, covering former players left with cognitive issues ranging from post-concussion syndrome to suspected CTE.
Asmanyas 70 former rugby players could have contributed to the action, including multiple All Blacks, whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by cognitive impairment.
Williams’ lawyer has contacted aqcin London about the action, but he doesn’t yet knowthe ins and outs of the situation.
Hewas the firstnewzealand rugby player to publicly commit his brain to science after being diagnosed with CTE.
Helives with constant headaches, is sensitive to light, hasmoodswings, has blackouts, and often forgets what he is doing.
The state of hismind affected his marriage, which has ended, and his work life. Heis cared for at all times by hisnewpartner.
Head knocks weren’t on anyone’s radar whenwilliams used to laceup the boots but he doesn’t begrudge the lack of action, “it’s howit was”.
Herecalls being knocked out during a game and continuing to play until about amonth laterwhendoctors discovered he had fractured his skull.
“Everybody got a bit of water and carried on,” he said.
“Therewas no such thing as replacements like there is now. Thatwas just life.”
Hewas forced to giveuplife as a stock agent, forgetting things like which farmer to go and visit or what weights to tell them.
“Then Iwent farming and I’d go and get the cows andmyparents would see therewas no one at the shed,” Williams said.
“I’d be in the paddock, sitting there if something went wrong like if there wasa sick cowor something not right, I’d freak out and sit there.
“I don’tknowwhat Idid. Myparents didn’t knowwhat the matter was, nobody sort of knew.”
The only stuff heknowsabout hisown rugby career is through newspaper clippings his mother left for him.
“I feel embarrassed about what happened tomeand the trouble I caused from all of that. At the time, you just can’t explain it,” Williams said.
However, he says a great weight waslifted off his shoulders after tests by aneuropsychologist indicated he had CTE.
Ctecan only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem so Williams has notified his family that he wants to donate his brain for testing.
“It’s a hell of a relief [once you know],” Williams said.
“There must be hundreds of blokes out therewhoare going through this, thesame trouble that they don’tknowwhy.
“They should go and talk tosomebody about it.”
Twoformer All Blacks, Carlhaymanand Geoff Old, told the Herald they have been in contact with British-based lawyers about their post-playing medical conditions.
“From what Iunderstand, it’s a pretty evergrowing list of [players]. I think it’s going to be something quite substantial that’s going to comefrom it,” said Hayman, a 45-test tighthead prop.
Hayman, 41, said hewascontacted and offered scans and tests to ascertain the damagehe’d suffered over the course of a career where he played innewzealand, England and France. Hedeclined the offer to undergo testing.
The action is being readied by lawyers in Britain and will likely target several national rugby bodies within that jurisdiction.
Herald sources indicate it will argue that rugby authorities haveknownabout, and subsequently underplayed, the risks associated with repetitive head injuries for decades. — Nzherald